Table Of ContentGuitar Method
All Scales
And
Arpeggios
LESSONS MENU
Preface
Chapter 1. The Basics
Chapter 2. Church Modes
Chapter 3. Song Writing
Chapter 4. Approaches
Chapter 5. Major Chord and Arpeggios
Chapter 6. Minor Chords and Arpeggios
Chapter 7. Dominant Chords and Arpeggios
Chapter 8. Altered Chords and Arpeggios
Chapter 9. Common Scales
Chapter 10. Exotic Scales
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Chapter 1 Lesson 1 - The Basics
Guitar Notes
The diagram below shows the names of the NOTES, on the guitar fretboard. These notes are permanent
and you must memorize them over the entire fretboard. Remember, the notes repeat, every twelfth fret.
This is the guitar fretboard showing all the notes including sharps.
The "#" (sharp) symbol means to raise a note a half step (one fret). There is only a half step separating the E
and F notes and a half step separating the B and C notes. There is really no such note as an E# or a B#
note. All the other notes have a whole step (two frets) of separation.
The notes in between the whole steps have the name of either a sharp(#) or a flat(b). The diagram above
shows these notes as sharp(#). The diagram below shows the in between notes as flats(b).
This is the guitar fretboard showing all the notes including flats.
The "b" (flat) symbol means to lower a note a half step. There is only a half step separating the E and F
notes and a half step separating the B and C notes. There is really no such note as an Fb a Cb note. All the
other notes have a whole step (two frets) of separation.
An F# note is the same as a Gb note. The G# is the same as the Ab. The A# is the same as the Bb. The C#
is the same as the Db and the D# is the same as the Eb.
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Chapter 1 - The Basics
guitar lesson 2
STRING NAMES
In the diagram below, there is an illustration of a guitar fretboard. All through this book there are similar such
diagrams. This is one of the only diagrams that has the names of the strings included in it, so memorize the
string names now. In all the diagrams, the big "E" string is at the bottom of the fretboard diagram, the little
"E" string is at the top.
The horizontal lines are the guitar strings.
The vertical lines are the guitar frets.
As you go through this book, notice that there are no fret markers or fret dots on most of the diagrams. This
is because the diagrams are just a section of an imaginary, infinite length, fretboard.
Chapter 1 - Guitar Basics
guitar lesson 3
DEGREES
The diagram below, shows an illustration of the infinite length guitar fretboard, with the numbers 1 through 7
on it. Notice that the numbers count from 1 to 7 and then repeat.
This is the entire major scale for guitar.
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The number 1 is the FIRST DEGREE or ROOT. The number 2 is the SECOND DEGREE. Number three is
the third degree and so on.
Notice that the distance between the first and second degree is two frets or a whole step, same with second
and third degree. The distance between the third and fourth degree however, is only one guitar fret or a half
step.
The distance, between the degrees, determines the name of the guitar scale. The name of the above
diagram is the MAJOR scale, because of the half step between the third and fourth degrees and the half step
between the seventh and first degrees. If the half steps were in any other position on the guitar, the scale
would not remain major.
Chapter 1 - The Basics
guitar lesson 4
MAJOR SCALE
The diagram below places the number pattern, of the entire major scale (in black), with the set notes, of the
guitar fretboard (in red). As a result the entire major scale, is now in the key of "E" major. This is because the
first degree of the major scale, is on the "E" note, If the major scale started on any other note, the key would
become the name of the note that first degree is on.
The numbers indicate the entire movable major scale pattern.
The letters indicate the permanent note-names of the frets.
The placement of the entire major scale starts on the "E" note, therefore this an "E" major scale.
Notice that all the number ones are on the "E" note, all the twos are on the "F#" note and so on.
To play a scale in the key of "G#," place the entire major scale pattern, starting with the first degree, on the
"G#" fret. The second degree will naturally fall on "A#," the third on "C," and so forth.
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This is the entire major scale in the key of G# major.
Chapter 1 - The Basics
guitar lesson 5
KEY TRANSPOSITION
The entire major scale pattern is moveable to anywhere on the guitar fretboard, but only as a whole. The
placement of the entire major scale on the fretboard, can identify the KEY NAME of the scale Every scale
has two key names, MAJOR or MINOR. The first degree (number 1) indicates the major key. The sixth
degree (number 6) indicates the minor key.
This is the entire "E" major scale
This is also the entire "C#" minor scale.
To change keys from "E" major to "F" major, simply move all the degrees up one fret so that the first degree
is on "F". In the diagram below, notice that the first degree is now on the "F" note, the second degree is on
"G", the third on "A" and so on. As a result the scale is now in the key of "F" major.
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This is the entire major scale in the key of "F" major.
This is also the entire "D" minor scale.
There a total of twelve keys (E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B, C, C#, D, and D#).
Chapter 2 - The Modes
guitar lesson 1
CHURCH MODES
The entire major scale contains 7 smaller scales, known as the CHURCH MODES. Each mode starts on a
different degree, 1 through 7. Each mode has a specific name, such as Ionian or Aeolian. Each mode is also
a specific type of scale, such as major or minor.
Degree Name Type
1-First Ionian Pure Major
2-Second Dorian Minor
3-Third Phrygian Minor
4-Fourth Lydian Major
5-Fifth Mixolydian Major
6-Sixth Aeolian Pure Minor
7-Seventh Locrian Diminished
The Ionian mode is the PURE MAJOR scale, because it starts on the first degree. As mentioned earlier the
first degree indicates the starting point or home base of a song that is in a major key. The Aeolian mode is
the PURE MINOR scale, because it starts on the sixth degree. The sixth degree is the starting point or home
base for a song that's in a minor key.
There are countless possible ways to play each of the modes. In most cases, any scale that starts at the first
degree, of the entire major scale and travels through the degrees to the next first degree, is an Ionian mode.
Any scale that starts at the second degree and travels through the degrees to the next second degree, is a
Dorian mode. Any scale that starts at the third degree and travels through the degrees to the next third
degree, is a Phrygian mode and so on.
In the diagram below, look for a few possible ways to play the Ionian mode. Three possibilities of the Ionian
mode, have boxes around them.
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This is the entire major scale, showing three possible Ionian modes.
The Ionian mode is a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 1. The Dorian mode is a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 1, 2. The Phrygian mode is a
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 1, 2, 3 and so on.
Chapter 2 - The Modes
guitar lesson 2
IONIAN MODE
The mode that starts on the FIRST degree of the entire major scale, is the Ionian mode. It is the PURE
MAJOR scale.
The pattern in the diagram below, contains two Ionian modes, hooked together. This is one of the
most beneficial patterns to learn. This pattern will make it a lot easier, to understand some of the
chords and arpeggios that relate to the Ionian mode.
This is just one possible way to play the Ionian mode.
This is the tablature for the above Ionian mode, in the key of "E" major.
Remember the first degree indicates the major key name.
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Memorize the Ionian mode pattern in the diagram above. Play it repeatedly, both forwards and
backwards, until it's easy to recall and play. Make sure that the picking hand uses an up and down
picking stroke, not just all down strokes.
This is the entire major scale in the key of "E" major.
An Ionian mode, in the key of "E" major, consists of an E, F#, G#, A, B, C# and a D#.
Notice that the Ionian mode, is part of the entire major scale.
Chapter 2 - The Guitar Modes
guitar lesson 3
MAJOR ARPEGGIO (IONIAN MODE)
An arpeggio is a set of three or more degrees, played on the guitar one note at a time (like a scale).
The most popular arpeggio is the triad arpeggio. It consists of the first, third and fifth degrees of a
mode.
There are many ways to play a triad arpeggio on the guitar. The diagram below, contains the
arpeggio that best fits the already discussed, Ionian mode. This arpeggio is MAJOR.
This is a major triad arpeggio, for the Ionian mode.
A major arpeggio consists of a 1, 3, and 5.
The tablature contains an "E" major arpeggio in the key of "E" major.
Play the arpeggio just like a scale, one note at a time.
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This is the entire major scale in the key of "E" major.
The "E" major arpeggio in the key of "E" major consists of an E, G#, and B.
Chapter 2 - The Guitar Modes
guitar lesson 4
MAJOR CHORD (IONIAN MODE)
A guitar CHORD is just like an arpeggio. The main difference is, that the chord plays all the notes at
once. The arpeggio, only plays, one note at a time. As a result a guitar chord can only contain only
one note per string. The arpeggio, can contain many notes per string.
The most popular guitar chord is the common chord. It's based off the triad arpeggio. It consists of
the first, third and fifth degrees of a mode. There are many ways to finger a common chord. The
diagram below contains the chord, that most closely relates, to the previously mentioned major
arpeggio. This chord is MAJOR.
This is the major common chord, for the Ionian mode.
The tablature contains an "E" major chord in the key of "E" major.
Make sure to leave all the indicated fingers, firmly, on the appropriate guitar fret, until finished
playing the chord. All the notes must ring out.
This is the entire major scale in the key of "E" major.
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